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Chachapoyas

Chachapoyas means “People of the Clouds”. This is a civilization that fought from high forest strongholds in resistance to Inca expansion and Spanish invasion. Chachapoyas was one of the last civilizations to succumb the Inca empire. Its legacy includes one of South America`s archaeological wonders: the defensive fortress of Kuelap. Perched on the shoulder of a 10,000-foot mountain, this 9th Century citadel comprisesan urban complex of more than 400 stone edifices - homes, palaces and temples enclosed by a 70-foot-tall stone wall.

Their architecture demonstrates non-Inca features, such as protruding geometric patterns, cornices, and friezes.

The Revash Tombs, the Karajia Sarcophagi and the extensive network of Chachapoyas paved trails also serve as a reminder of the greatness of this vanished nation. Archaeologists are mapping and excavating many important Chachapoyas sites. The museum in Leymebamba displays 200 mummies recovered from the remote Lake of the Condors. It describes the extraordinary embalming methods of the Chachapoya lifestyle and culture. The Museum houses a collection of knotted Quipu, the record-keeping device of the Incas.